Let me begin by extending our appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing the documents before us, and we aslo commend the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for its continued commitment to the implementation of its very important mandate.

In this intervention, my delegation wishes to touch upon the main elements related to Agenda Items 107 and 108.

On agenda item 107, crime prevention and criminal justice, Indonesia is committed to seeking stronger measures and closely cooperating with the international community in combating such “emerging crimes” as cybercrime; the illicit trafficking of cultural properties; illicit international trafficking in forest products, such as timber, wildlife and other forest biological resources; and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.

IUU fishing practice, in our view, remains one of the greatest threats to the marine ecosystem. It carries serious implications for the conservation and management of ocean resources, and has major implications for food security and the economies of many countries.

The victims of these natural-resources-related crimes are individuals and also groups. Not only do they often hurt individuals in the short run, they also inflict great damage on the entire ecosystem that can last a long time. By so doing, they have the effect of impeding the global drive to achieve social justice as well as eradicate poverty.

Mr. Chairman,

The fight against corruption remains one of the highest priorities of the Indonesian Government. Internationally, Indonesia voluntarily took part in the UNCAC review mechanisms last year that reflects the commitment of the government to the battle against corruption. Indonesia believes that the review mechanism could contribute to the Member States in implementing the UNCAC more robustly and effectively.

At the national level, Indonesia has taken several measures that include the adoption of a National Plan of Action against Corruption. That plan includes preventive measures, regulatory framework, law enforcement, asset recovery, international cooperation, and reporting mechanisms.

With regard to the asset recovery, as a fundamental principle of UNCAC we wish to underline that, considering the complicated nature of recovering and returning the stolen assets to the country of origin, cooperation is paramount important.

Mr. Chairman,

With reference to trafficking in persons, we warmly support a variety of global and regional efforts, including the United Nations Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons. Nationally, we continue to be committed to tackling this menace, but we believe that international efforts to address it should focus on prevention, prosecution and protection of the victims.

At the regional level, Indonesia with Australia chairs jointly the Bali Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Human Trafficking and Related Transnational Crimes (the Bali Process). In this process, participating countries have committed to enhanced and coordinated efforts to streamline and monitor the origin, transit and destination countries as significant measures for addressing the challenge of trafficking in persons.

UNODC has also been actively involved in the Bali process activities, and its involvement has benefited the process, especially in providing the guidelines on international standards and norms in addressing the issue of irregular migration.

Mr. Chairman,

On counter-terrorism, Indonesia reiterates its strong condemnation to this menace in all its forms and manifestations. We also wish to reiterate that terrorism should not be equated with any religion, race, faith, society or group.

The UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy (UNGCTS) adopted in 2006 reflects the critical desire of the international community to havea global, comprehensive and strategic framework in combating terrorism.

We believe that the greatest challenge is how to consistently implement the Strategy in a comprehensive, coordinated and balanced manner.

Indonesia is of the view that to achieve optimum result in implementing the Global Strategy to combat terrorism, four factors should be seriously considered: (i) there should be synergy between UNGCTS and national, bilateral and regional efforts; (ii) the varied and complex root causes of terrorism should be comprehensively addressed; (iii) law enforcement measures should be complemented by the use of soft power to promote tolerance, values of moderation and eradicate extremism; and (iv) efforts to counter terrorism must be consistent with the rule of law and respect for human rights and democratic principles.

We support the role of UNODC in developing technical assistance program for Member States through the facilitation of the ratification and implementation of the universal conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Mr. Chairman,

On agenda 108, concerning international drug control, my delegation believes that the effective way to address the world’s drug problems is through enhanced cooperation at all levels. We must embark on a holistic approach that will include various stakeholders. National policy must be in partnership with the health and education sectors as well as law enforcement entities.

We are greatly concerned to such alarming developments as the illicit manufacture of drugs, the rapidly growing number of clandestine laboratories, the rerouting of illegal drugs trafficking and the employment of women and children as drugs traffickers. Enhanced collaboration and vigilance in fighting these trends are therefore crucial.

Within ASEAN, we are pleased to point out that ASEAN member states have been joining efforts aimed at achieving “a drug-free ASEAN” by 2015 by addressing threats related to illicit drug manufacturing, trafficking and abuse.

Furthermore, Indonesia continues to extend her support to the work of INCB as an independent guardian of the three drugs control treaties in ensuring the full compliance and implementation of States to those treaties.

We are also expanding our alternative development measures with an initiative called “alternative livelihood in urban areas”, to provide sustained livelihood for former and potential drugs couriers. In this regard, we wish to underline the importance of international cooperation to promote best-practices and lessons-learned in the sustaining alternative development programmes and capacity-building.

Let me conclude, Mr. Chairman, by reiterating that the keys to our success in all of these transnational organized crimes, is the willingness to work together and the political will to take all necessary measures.

I thank you.

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations, New York
325 East 38th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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